To be honest, we could probably use a guy like Shattenkirk down the stretch right now. But good news for sure. At least one of these guys will be with the big club next year

avsfantrumpetman

To be honest, we could probably use a guy like Shattenkirk down the stretch right now. But good news for sure. At least one of these guys will be with the big club next year

Nick, Quebec

Jonas Holos and Joel Chouinard are next…

James

I just don't see either of these guys making a real impact in the NHL. Shattenkirk is basically a clone of Liles, and Cohen just isn't physical. The Avs are in desperate need of a bully of a defenseman who will clear the crease and make opponents fear going to the corners or the front of the net. They don't have one player like that in their system, and it shows. Most of the Avs prospects are just too soft.

James

I just don't see either of these guys making a real impact in the NHL. Shattenkirk is basically a clone of Liles, and Cohen just isn't physical. The Avs are in desperate need of a bully of a defenseman who will clear the crease and make opponents fear going to the corners or the front of the net. They don't have one player like that in their system, and it shows. Most of the Avs prospects are just too soft.

avsfantrumpetman

Shattenkirk is a better passer than Liles, and is MUCH more accurate with his wristshot. I am fairly certain he will be on the roster next year, if not at the beginning, certainly by the middle. Cohen has a fantastic slapshot, but needs to work on his defensive positioning. Honestly, the reason why i think both these guys make the squad next year is because they fill the role of second PP pair that we DESPERATELY need. I mean right now our powerplay defensive pairings are makeshift at best, and these two are good at running a powerplay, they've been doing it together for three years now. And if you are looking for a bully of a defenseman, Wilson can fill that role, and I recommend you look up Cameron Gaunce. Aaron Musick (hockeybuzz.com) and I both feel like he could be as good as Footer in his prime. All of this being said, its probably better to be cautious about prospects. I just think these guys are pretty good.

Avs fan

With Wilson's concussion problems and how he plays the game I think he's going to have trouble staying healthy. If he play's cautious and doesn't hit then he's not affective. And, big hitters have to fight sometimes and we all know how that worked out last time! If he is able to play like he did at the start of the season, hard hitting, fighting at times and making room on the ice for himself them he can be a top 3 D. Otherwise he will be a 5-6 defenceman.

Avs fan

With Wilson's concussion problems and how he plays the game I think he's going to have trouble staying healthy. If he play's cautious and doesn't hit then he's not affective. And, big hitters have to fight sometimes and we all know how that worked out last time! If he is able to play like he did at the start of the season, hard hitting, fighting at times and making room on the ice for himself them he can be a top 3 D. Otherwise he will be a 5-6 defenceman.

jabshot

Wilson is not the monster we need! He already has 2 concussions this year alone. one more and I think he is on his way out. We need a couple of 6'5 crease clearers if we have any hope of competing with the likes of CHI, WAS, SJS, etc. Luckily we could grab Babchuk for about $2mil. At 6'5 and a monster point shot he would fit in nicely. Coburn may be available for an offer sheet. In the draft there are 2 really good chouces. McIlrath and Tinordi.

mikewofsey

I agree, Shattenkirk has the raw material, and I agree to be cautious … but like Duchene, there is intangible about Shatter (kill the Shatty nickname now please) that has him fitting in as an Av better than anywhere else. Speed and endurance eventually suffer through long seasons, accuracy not as much, and size not at all. (Thus the reason why we need to hold onto the big guys like Stewie, and the reason San Jose is in a comfortable spot now.)Anyway, Calgary just lost as whatshisname predicted, I'm getting a not-terrible feeling about tonight's game against San Jose.

Dirty Dan Harris

Did you seriously just reference Aaron Musick? Woof. That place is a joke.

mikewofsey

I think Joel Chouinard is dramatically underrated, partly because of the kind of play he's been pressed into, partly as an enforcer. I can see him on the Monsters only for the first few months of next season before being brought in. I think he would fit with the developing Quebecois-nature of our defense. I really like watching him.

mikewofsey

Ah … breathing room.And San Jose was loathe to let loose of that one, they just lost their shot at the President's Trophy.

ard8

I'm really glad you're not an Avs' scout. Just because a d-man is undersized doesn't make him a “clone” of Liles, or anyone else for that matter. Does Brian Campbell “make a real impact in the NHL”? How about Dan Boyle? Could the Avs use more oversized, fast and physical d-men in their system? Well really, what team couldn't, but those guys don't grow on trees and big pylons don't cut it anymore.And as for all the doctors in the house making predictions about Ryan Wilson's future, why do you bother? Everyone knows concussions are serious. For some guys, they're career threatening. For some guys, they're not. And since someone mentioned Hockey Buzz, I need to chime in. While that site's founder has no credibility whatsoever, some of the team bloggers are OK. Garth from Buffalo is especially good and our Avs guy is OK too, but he also shouldn't speculate on injuries like Mueller's. Look, if you're not a doctor, just keep your injury opinions to yourself until the team issues some updates. Saying Mueller has a shoulder injury when he was obviously dazed and favoring his leg? And commenting that it's probably his last game of the season is really good stuff. If we're up 2-0 late in the third are you the guy who screams out “I hope we get a shutout!” I'm not a superstitious guy, except when it comes to certain tried and true things in hockey. Don't mention the word “shutout” until the game is over and don't talk about injuries unless you're damned sure you know what you're talking about.

Nick

Shattenkirk is such a talented kid. He just needs experience, there was a good article on him at http://nhlalert.com not to long ago

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.

Chambers covers college and professional hockey for The Denver Post. He has written for the Post since 1994, after dumping his first 9-to-5 office job a couple years out of college. He primarily follows the University of Denver hockey team and helps cover the Avalanche.